The Application of Aptamers in The Diagnosis and Therapy of Bladder Cancer / 生物化学与生物物理进展

Bladder cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, with a high rate of recurrence and mortality, which is the ninth most common malignancy globally. Cystoscopy remains the gold standard for clinical bladder cancer diagnosis, but its invasive nature can lead to bacterial infection and inflammation. Urine cytology is a non-invasive and simple diagnostic method, but it has lower sensitivity in detecting low-grade bladder cancer and may yield false negative results. Therefore, identifying ideal diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of bladder cancer. Aptamers, characterized as single-stranded DNA or RNA with unique three-dimensional conformations, exhibit the ability to identify various targets, ranging from small molecules to tumor cells. Aptamers, also known as chemical antibodies, are generated by systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) process and can function similarly to traditional antibodies. They hold numerous advantages over antibodies, such as ease of modification, low immunogenicity, and rapid tissue penetration and cell internalization due to their nucleic acid molecule structure. Since their discovery in the 1990s, aptamers have been widely used in biochemical analysis, disease detection, new drug research and other fields. This article provides an overview of aptamer selection and characterization for bladder cancer, discussing the research advancements involving aptamers in diagnosing and treating this disease. It covers aptamers obtained through different SELEX methods, including protein-SELEX, cell-SELEX, tissue-SELEX, and aptamers from other cancer SELEX; the detection in blood samples and urine samples; and application in targeted therapy and immunotherapy for bladder cancer. Currently, several aptamers capable of identifying bladder cancer have been generated, serving as molecular probes that have played a pivotal role in the early detection and treatment of bladder cancer. Bladder cancer perfusion therapy is well-suited for aptamer drug therapy because it does not require internal circulation, making it a suitable clinical indication for aptamer drug development. In addition, bladder cancer can be detected and monitored by collecting urine samples from patients, making it a preferred disease for clinical conversion of aptamers. While aptamers show promise, there is still much room for development compared with antibodies. There are still many clinically applied cancer biomarkers without corresponding aptamers, and more aptamers targeting different biomarkers should be selected and optimized to improve the sensitivity and accuracy for cancer detection and therapy. The field of aptamers urgently needs successful commercial products to promote its development, and home rapid detection/monitoring, imaging and targeted therapy of bladder cancer by infusion may be the breakthrough point for future application of aptamers.

Preparation of silymarin solid dispersions and dissolution rates of five constituents / 中成药

AIM To prepare silymarin solid dispersions and to evaluate the dissolution rates of five constituents.METHODS Taking F68 and PVPk30 as a combined carrier,the solid dispersions were prepared by solvent fusion method.Then the effects of combined carrier ratio and drug-carrier ratio on dissolution rates of silybin,isosilybin,silydianin,silycristin and taxifolin were investigated.RESULTS The optimal conditions were determined to be 1 ∶ 3 for combined carrier ratio,and 1 ∶ 5 for drug-carrier ratio.These five constituents displayed much higher dissolution rates in solid dispersions than those in raw medicine and physical mixture (silymarin-carrier).CONCLUSION Solid dispersions can significantly increase the dissolution rates of effective components in silymarin.

Effect of propranolol gel on infantile hemangiomas / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and security of propranolol gel in treatment of Infantile hemangiomas.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>51 consecutive infants with hemangiomas from October 2010 to September 2011 in Department of General Surgery Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command were treated with propranolol hydrochloride 3% gel. Changes in hemangioma size, texture, color, tumor blood flow peak were recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results were evaluated using Achauer system, responses of IHs to propranolol were considered scale I (poor) in 4 patient (17.24%), scale II (moderate) in 18 patients (24.14%), scale III (good) in 22 patients (44.83%) and scale IV (excellent) in 7 patients (13.79%). The response of superficial hemangiomas was significantly better than other hemangiomas (P < 0.05), and no significant differences in response among different primary sites (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Topical use of propranolol hydrochloride 3% gel is an effective option for superficial hemangiomas.</p>